Dear jengarn86 - The best thing to do for the environment is to repurpose as much as you possibly can. For example, you can repurpose broom and mop handles as curtain rods. As for your sponges, synthetic sponges can’t be recycled, but sea sponges and natural sponges made from vegetable cellulose are biodegradable and can be tossed into a compost heap. Sponges can also be repurposed for arts and crafts projects or other creative uses. Because sponges can harbor bacteria, yeast, and mold, before repurposing them either microwave the sponge for 60 seconds or run it through a dishwasher drying cycle. Bottom line, be creative!